Project 101 In 1001

The Challenge:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days. This challenge will begin on January 1st, 2010 and end September 28th, 2012.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple challenges such as New Year’s resolutions or a ‘Bucket List’. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

If items are in italic, that means they are in progress

If a link is all the way through an item, that means it is completed and blogged about!

If an item is struck out, that means it was an epic failure and I’m sure it’ll be blogged about as well. There will probably be pictures documenting my shame.

Crafty Things

..001..Complete Miles’ first year scrapbook
..002..Knit a sweater for myself
..003..Make 75% Miles’ Christmas gifts one year
..004..Make 75% of Ella’s Christmas gifts one year
..005..Make 75% of any new garments needed for my summer wardrobe

Household Primping
..006..Organize the craft room
..007..Paint craft room
..008..Make curtains for the kitchen and GET THEM HUNG.
..009..Make a style book for the house. Make a page for each room with paint chips and inspiration.
..010..Create Family Wall in Dining Room
..011..Finish Ella’s room with smaller bed, shelves, and art work
..012..Get second big wedding photo up with black shelf
..013..Update living room picture wall
..014..Create and hang curtains for craft room (I detest mini blinds)
..015..Create and hang curtains for dining room (can you tell our windows are naked??)
..016..Get a lampshade for small lamp
..017..Get end tables for living room
..018..Consider ramifications of getting a coffee table and if deemed positive, get one
..019..Get small mirror to hang over stove
..020..Print and frame artwork for bathroom
..021..Find and/or make table cloth for dining room table

Snapshots, Photography & Pictures
..022..Name, tag and arrange all of my photos on my computer and my Flickr account
..023..Participate successfully in Project: 365 for one year FAIL (1/22/10)
..024..Learn to efficiently use my point and shoot camera
..025..Create a photo album for my pictures from Project 365 FAIL (1/22/10)
..026..Use a public photo booth to take silly photos. There is a photobooth at the Northwoods Mall
..027..Get family portraits taken

Health (Physical, Mental, Emotional)
..028..Fill art book with Mandelas
..029..Go to the dentist (twitch twitch)
..030..Have a chocolate free week
..031..Have a TV free week
..032..Wear a size 10 jean or get to weight goal, whichever comes first.
..033..Take vitamins daily for 90 days (stretch it out after!)
..034..Send a secret to post secret

Ambitions
..035..Attend a birth where I am not the woman in labor (provided anyone wants me there when Miles is old enough to be left behind)
..036..Take a ballroom dancing class with Aaron
..037..Participate in Race for the Cure

Finances and Super Duper Important Papers
..038..Create a will
..039..Name a power of attorney
..040..Get passports for entire family (0/4)
..041..Get address updated physically on driver’s license
..042..Put away $1000.00 savings account as an emergency fund. ($0/$1000.00)
..043..Become debt free or as close as we can to that. (to be accomplished after putting $1000.00 in savings)
..044..Put away 6 months worth of bills in savings account (will be completed after becoming debt free)
..045..Set up a savings account for Ella
..046..Set up a savings account for Miles
..047..Figure out and put into place a better filing system for the important papers
..048..Find a place to store copies of important papers in case of a natural disaster and GET THEM THERE
..049..Have a personal spend free week
..050..Have a personal spend free month
..051..Shop at Goodwill/second hand stores BEFORE going to standard retail

In Bibliophile Style
..052..Send out 15 books through Bookcrossing (0/15)
..053..Read 15 nonfiction books
..054..Track and record books owned on Library Thing
..055..Read 5 novels from The Times 100 novel list

(I realize the number of books doesn’t seem very ambitious when compared to 2.75 years, but let’s be realistic here. I have two children and may be pregnant with a third before this is all said and done. Not a lot of time to read, unless you count Sandra Boynton books)

Give Myself Writer’s Cramp (or carpal tunnel from typing?)
..056..Mail out Christmas cards/letters
..057..Participate in NaBloPoMo
..058..Find a snail mail penpal and keep in touch for at least a year
..059..Submit an article to Mothering Magazine
..060..Create a video blog post

Ridding and Reorganizing
..061..Get rid of 101 personal items. (0/101)
..062..Organize all children clothes
..063..Organize all of my clothes by season
..064..Organize my recipes by finding a system I like and STICKING TO IT
..065..Get a day planner/calender and use it
..066..Create, maintain and use address book
..067..Sort through kids’ toys bimonthly (0/17)

Family Feature
..068..Take Ella to swimming lessons
..069..Nurse Miles at least until a year
..070..Skype at least 2 times a month so Ella can interact with my side of the family (1/102)
..071..Get Miles a box. I think Mom has a cigar box I could use
..072..Get a box for Lillian and Marshal
..073..Go to Michigan Dunes for family vacation

A Kind Word
..074..Give a note of encouragement to Aaron once a week
..075..Mail a snail mail encouragement card to someone once a month. (0/34)
..076..Pay for someone’s Starbucks order behind me in the drive through
..077..Take homemade treats during the week of Ella’s birthday to her midwife’s office
..078..Take homemade treats during the week of Miles’ birthday to his midwife’s office
..079..Participate in Operation Beautiful

To Encourage My Paranoia
..080..Create an emergency kit for the car
..081..Create an emergency kit for the basement in case of tornadoes
..082..Use only reusable grocery bags for 8 weeks straight. If I don’t have a bag, I don’t go shopping (0/8)

Just For Me
..083..Investigate requirements how to become a lactation consultant
..084..Get italics book and improve handwriting
..085..Dance in public with Aaron
..086..Get my nose pierced (because I’m hardcore like that)
..087..Have a girlfriend over for lunch (because this totally terrifies me for some reason)
..088..Collect pictures of all my online friends and tape them to the inside door of my computer armoire Started!
..089..Go on a monthly date with Aaron as childfree as possible. (1/17)
…090..Find regular childcare for monthly date with Aaron. I sent a few emails.

Green Thumbs And Enjoying The Fruits Of My Labors
..091..Plant a patio garden
..092..Eat at an Indian restaurant
..093..Cook one extra meal a week to put in freezer for three months (0/12)
..094..Make homemade vanilla extract
..095..Plant a kitchen herb garden to maintain in the house
..096..Acquire a hand potato masher Hooray for Susan. Thank you!! (1/22/10)
..097..Acquire an immersion blender

Opinions and Compilations
..098..Research education options for Ella (homeschool, public, private)
..099..Research different E-Readers to determine which would be the best choice
..100..Compare best E-Reader to getting an I-Touch
..101..Compile another 101/1001 list